Getting There

Air

• From the USA: Tthere are scheduled flights to St Croix and/or St Thomas with American Airlines (Baltimore, Boston, Miami, New York), Delta (Atlanta, Detroit, New York), United Airlines (Chicago, Washington DC), Continental (New York), US Air (Philadelphia).
• From Europe: There are no direct flights, connections can be made via Miami or Puerto Rico, St Maarten and Antigua.
• Within the Caribbean: Regional airlines link the USVI with other Caribbean islands and there are flights to Anguilla, Antigua, the Dominican Republic, St Barthélémy, Puerto Rico (San Juan, Vieques and Fajardo), St Kitts, Nevis, St Maarten and the BVI. Air Sunshine, a charter air line has flights to San Juan, St Thomas, St Croix, Tortola and Virgin Gorda, T888-8798900, 800-3278900. Bohlke International Airways, T7789177 has a charter service between St Thomas and St Croix and day trips to Virgin Gorda and Anegada in the BVI with lunch, swimming, sightseeing. American Eagle, Gulfstream International, Cape Air and Seaborne Aviation all run services several times daily between Puerto Rico, St Thomas and St Croix.

Airport Information: St Thomas: The Cyril E King international airport is 2 miles, 12 mins, from Charlotte Amalie. Seaplanes come in at the Seaplane base (SPB) in the capital’s harbour.

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Sea

Boat: Ocean going ships can be accommodated at Charlotte Amalie in St Thomas and Frederiksted and the South Shore cargo port in St Croix. There are regular services between the USVI and the BVI. Native Son (T7748685) and Smith’s Ferry (T775292) alternate services from Charlotte Amalie to West End, Tortola (45 mins, US$35 return) and on to Road Town, Tortola (90 mins, US$35 return), several daily, some stop in Red Hook. Smith’s Ferry also to Virgin Gorda. Inter Island Boat Services (T7766597) several daily between Cruz Bay, St John and West End, Tortola; three times a week, Red Hook and Cruz Bay to Jost Van Dyke, BVI; twice a week Red Hook-Cruz-Virgin Gorda. Nubian Express, T284-4954999 between West End, Tortola, and St John and Red Hook, St Thomas, Sunday-Friday, three daily. Caribe Cay sails between St Thomas and Fajardo, Puerto Rico at weekends, US$70 return, T8608809 in Puerto Rico.

• St Thomas: Boats come in to Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook in the east. See Getting Around for more details and information about anchorages.

Ports of Entry: Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas; Christiansted and Frederiksted, St Croix; Cruz Bay, St John.

Boat Documents: The USVI are a territory of the USA but constitute a separate Customs district. US boats with US citizens have to clear in here when coming from Puerto Rico (can be done by phone on St Croix) and all other islands. To find out more about custom fees, call Mr Harrigan on T7742510, ext 223. St Croix customs T7731011. When arriving by boat it is essential to ensure that you have the correct visas for immigration purposes. All vessels must clear in upon arrival from a foreign port and all crew members aboard must go ashore with the captain to obtain entry into the USVI. Clearing customs and immigration on St John is a pain due to the crowded harbour. Anchor if you can find room, try northwest end of island or just outside harbour, you can walk from beaches at Hawksnest. On St Croix, foreign boats or boats with foreign passengers clear customs at Gallows Bay Dock.

Anchorages

• St Thomas: Most moorings in St Thomas are privately owned. It is illegal to use a private mooring without permission from the DPNR. Charter companies own a few for their fleets. The dive companies of St Thomas have placed some moorings near some dive locations on Buck Island, Saba Island, Little St James Island and a few others. No directions or restrictions on their use. There are dinghy docks at Yacht Haven Marina, along the waterfront near Coast Guard dock, Frenchtown Marina, Crown Bay Marina, Water Island Ferry Dock (privately owned).
• St John: On St John, the US Park Service has placed moorings to protect the reefs and seagrass areas. A yacht is limited to anchoring in the US Park for no more than 14 days a year. Park moorings on north shore: Caneel Bay, Hawksnest, Cinnamon Bay, Maho, Francis Bay; on south shore: Salt Pond, Little Lameshur and Great Lameshur. Forbidden to anchor on south shore, moorings must be used. There are some private moorings for day charter boats in Maho Bay, Cruz Bay. Great Cruz Bay and Coral Bay are not within the park territory and have privately owned moorings.
• St Croix: St Croix divers have placed mooring buoys at wall dive locations to prevent damage to the reefs while anchoring. There are no restrictions to their use; they only ask that stays be limited to 4 hrs so that another boat might use reef for second dive of the day. In anchorages, all moorings are privately owned. Buck island has moorings placed within the snorkelling area for day use only. Overnight anchoring is not allowed and boats must anchor in sand at southwest end of island. Marinas at St Croix Marine, Anapolis Sailing School, St Croix Yachting Club, Green Cay Marina, Salt River Marina. Anchorages at Christiansted, Frederiskted (deep so very difficult), Green Cay, Teague Bay by St Croix Yacht Club (reciprocates with members of other yacht clubs).

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